The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
Everyone needs a break after the holiday craziness. Thankfully, a new year means a fresh slate of vacation days—and we have some ideas on what you should do with them. Here, four ideas for where to travel this winter.
Telluride
Even though it’s within Colorado’s rectangular borders, Telluride is far enough away from Denver that it feels like a true getaway. New this winter, Hotel Telluride is offering a Master of the Mountain package. Powder hounds receive the luxe treatment with a three-night stay in one of the hotel’s suites, hot breakfast every morning, a one-day Telluride Ski Mountain pass with private guide, a semi-private heli-skiing tour, a 90-minute custom spa treatment, a private dining experience, and two pairs of Wagner Custom Skis. The package, which starts at $3,999 per night, is available through March for one to four people. Call 1-866-468-3501 to check availability and book. Want to extend your trip? Find more ideas of what to do in one of our favorite mountain towns with our first-timer’s guide.
Aspen
Aspen is a winter no-brainer, but now there’s even more reason to visit the chic town—with your kids in tow. The glamorous Hotel Jerome recently launched its Junior Je-roamers program, which provides adventures curated specifically for eight- to 14-year-olds. Whether it’s a day at ski school, dog sledding, or taking the whole family ice-skating at the Aspen Recreation Center, Hotel Jerome ensures every member of the family is taken care of. It’s free to have the concierge set up these excursions, but the cost of the activities varies. (Money-saving tip: If you rent ski and snowboard equipment for kids ages seven to 12 from Four Mountain Sports, you’ll receive one free kid’s lift ticket. The promotion runs January 1 through April 16.) Trying to decide when to visit? Aspen is hosting the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals March 15–19—the first time the event has been held in the United States in 20 years. We’re certain your children will be just as awed as you are by the speeds these alpine skiers reach. If you prefer to spend your time away from the slopes, SoulCycle is hosting a 12-day pop-up in the Boogie’s Diner building, December 22 through January 2; there will be three to five classes per day ($40, including shoe rental).
Photo by Zach Jones
California’s Central Coast
If your idea of enjoying winter is, well, escaping winter, then this trip is for you. In 2017, Trek Travel—named a “World’s Best” tour operator by Travel + Leisure—is introducing a six-day, five-night cycling trip from Ojai to Santa Barbara, California. Between the calorie burning (16 to 57 miles per day) and sightseeing on two wheels—and maybe dolphin spotting—you’ll unwind in high-end accommodations and enjoy local wine and food. Prices start at $3,499 per person, and the itinerary is doable for recreational riders. Trips run March 12–17 and April 9–14.
Park City, Utah
As we wrote in our November issue, Vail Resorts’ decision to combine Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain Resort into one mega-ski hill (now known as Park City Mountain) was supercool. Since 2015, the mountain has seen $50 million in upgrades, and there’s no shortage of exploring to do on its 7,000 acres of skiable terrain—which is included in many of Vail’s ski passes. (Tip: Park City Bread & Bagel is a great place to fuel up before hitting the slopes.) Beyond the ski hill, thrill seekers should plan a visit to Utah Olympic Park, where those 16 and older can hitch a ride down the 2002 Olympic track on the Comet bobsled ($175 per person). There’s also plenty of shopping and art viewing to be enjoyed along Historic Main Street. Whiskey lovers can warm their bellies at year-old, ski-in High West Distillery, and to avoid drinking on an empty stomach, you can’t go wrong with a meal at Tupelo, Handle, Fletcher’s, or El Chubasco.
Follow contributor Daliah Singer on Twitter at .
